Gracie's Hot Dogs

There was a place right off exit 70 on the LIE that I always stopped at when my wife and I ventured to the Hamptons. Grace's hot dog stand in Manorville. It started as a hot dog truck serving passersby in the 70s and 80s, and they got so popular that they transitioned into a brick-and-mortar restaurant. It served so many that lines would be out the door during the peak of summer. The best part is that you could eat indoors or at one of the picnic tables outside. 

The service was great, and everyone, including the staff, was so happy to be there; you might even run into someone you met the last time you stopped by; it was what people coined a "Must Stop."

For years, we would tell people who didn't know about it. We even discussed what we would order as we got closer to heading out to the Hampyons, but one day it was gone. We saw it had closed for good. Both my wife and I became so angry at what we just witnessed. How could this icon be taken from the community without even a whisper? 

As it turns out, there had been things going on in the background for years that we never knew about, like zoning issues. This was a major problem. It might have been so big that the owners saw no way out of what could have been a very expensive court battle. So they did what anyone else would do: they sold the property in 2002 for $1.3 million. This allowed them to move and retire to Florida. Unfortunately, her retirement did not last that long; she passed away seven years later. 

For the next few years, my wife and I would pass that spot, look at each other, and talk about Gracies with fond memories and how amazing the dirty dogs were. To this day, I have never found a hot dog better than what was served at Gracies. 

Don Youngner

Pink Grapefruit - New From Wet The Face

Pink Grapefruit

Awaken your senses with the bold, invigorating scent of Pink Grapefruit by Wet The Face — a vibrant shaving soap crafted for men who appreciate clean, confident fragrance with a sharp citrus edge.

Bursting with bright zest and natural energy, Pink Grapefruit captures the full character of freshly sliced grapefruit. The scent opens with juicy citrus sweetness before revealing the crisp bitterness of the rind, creating a balanced fragrance that feels refreshing, masculine, and unmistakably alive.

This is not a sugary fruit scent. It’s a refined citrus experience designed to energize your morning shave while delivering the rich lather, slickness, and post-shave comfort Wet The Face is known for.

Fresh. Crisp. Bold.

Pink Grapefruit is the perfect companion for warm mornings, clean starts, and men who prefer their grooming products with character.

Scent Notes
Fresh Pink Grapefruit, Bright Citrus Zest, Tart Grapefruit Rind

Performance
Rich, creamy lather, Excellent slickness and glide, Luxurious post-shave feel, Handcrafted in small batches

Shaving With Spices From The Sea

Today I'll be using Spices From The Sea. This is one of my favorite shaving soaps. When I told you I was not sure this was going to come back into production, I meant it. Finding all the notes for this profile was hard, but once I did, something else happened: these new oils have changed the shaving soap properties in a good way. The soap is way creamier, and the lather is outstanding. Let's not forget the scent is pretty much spot on with Old Spice, and everyone that I have sold this to thinks so as well.

The lather penetrated the beard and provided excellent coverage along with its superior slickness and glide, for an irritation-free shave. I think the best part is the post-shave feel, and once you use the aftershave splash, you can hear the Old Spice song in your head.

Shaving With Mr. Warlock

Today I'm using Mr. Warlock shaving soap. This was named after the children's Christmas movie, Santa Claus is Coming to Town. This movie has stuck with me since it was released in 1970, some 56 years ago. It starred the voices of Fred Astaire, Mickey Rooney, Keenan Wynn, who, by the way, was the voice of Mr. Warlock, and Robie Lester as Mr.s Jessica. Mickey and Robie play Mr. & Mrs. Santa Claus.

The scent for this shaving soap is based on Eucalyptus, with Camphor, and icy Peppermint, with the added bonus of Menthol. It makes a powerful statement, one like no other, and wet shavers who use it tend to agree that it's a unique experience.

The lather is easy to make, and the slickness and glide are top-notch. The post-shave feel will be remembered, and to top it off, the splash will allow you to take this good feeling with you for some time.

Shaving With Cuban Tobacco

I went back to one of the soaps that started it all, Cuban Tobacco. An amazing scent that takes all the guessing out of what this represents. Easy to lather and place in a bowl, spreads with just a finger, and in seconds, you're ready to make a lather.

Use a brush to ensure complete coverage of the beard. The soap's slickness and glide will allow your razor to move effortlessly over challenging areas without causing irritation. The post-shave feel is great, and the aftershave just tops off the shave nicely.

Sorry, I didn't have much time watching movies and TV shows, so I'll get back to that next week. 

Aramis - New From Wet The Face

Introducing Aramis – A New Addition to the Three Musketeers Shaving Soap series from Wet The Face. As a Musketeer, he is one of the great three. Aramis is a handsome, quiet, and somewhat foppish. He constantly protests that he is only temporarily in the Musketeers and that any day now he will return to the Church to pursue his true calling. Aramis has a mysterious mistress, Madame de Chevreuse, a high noblewoman, whose existence and identity he tries to keep from his friends.

Aramis stands out from the other musketeers because he’s refined, intellectual, and deeply religious. While the others often lean into bravado or physical strength, Aramis is more:

Elegant and well-spoken
Philosophical and thoughtful
Torn between two worlds: the sword and the church. 

Shaving With 1K Light Blue

Today I use 1K light blue. This is based on Dolce & Gabbana's Light Blue for men. This is one of my favorites, and I'm sure it would be one of yours, too. I took the time this week to bowl lather, so glad I did. What a pleasure it was not to rush and go through my routine without worry this week.

If you know my soap base, you know it's a lather monster, and combined with our WTF shaving bowl, you can't lose. A word on the shaving bowls: they are in transit at the time of this writing and just might be back in stock this weekend, so if you're looking for one, check the website. Also, the WTF brush is now in progress. Amy, our pottery artisan, is going to try her hand at making a prototype, so my fingers are crossed that she is successful. If so, it shouldn't be long until we have them here.